July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
PAINE, Thomas (1737-1809) an author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. His principal contributions were the powerful, widely read pamphlet Common Sense (1776), advocating colonial America's independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain, and The American Crisis (1776–1783), a pro-revolutionary pamphlet series. His writing of "Common Sense" was so influential in spurring on the Revolutionary War that John Adams reportedly said, "Without the pen of the author of 'Common Sense,' the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain.” A Rare 1783 Autograph Letter Signed "T. Paine". One page with docketing and integral address leaf, 6-1/2" x 8-1/4", Borden Town [New Jersey], February 27, 1783, to Declaration of Independence Signer Robert Morris who has handwritten a notation on the back "Borden Town 27 Febry. 1783 Thos. Paine Esq." In full "I just now reached this place after a most troublesome and fatiguing journey of bad weather and bad roads - and to add to the difficulties of it I fell ill of a fever which detained me in a little Dutch House destitute of every convenience for ten days. I shall stay at this place a day or two and hope after that to see you well in Philadelphia. Please to present my Compl[limen]ts to Mr. G[eorge] - M[ason] and Mr. Livingstone. I am your Obt Hble Sert, T. Paine.” The letter has excellent provenance. A manuscript note on the verso from the original owner, dated 1851, states, in part: "This letter was presented to me by Miss Sally Morris, granddaughter of Robert Morris. I have consented to part with it to Mr. Davies only with the view of rendering more perfect his invaluable collection of autographs. I have added to it an original letter from John Jay. Robert W. Landis." Fine condition with original mailing folds, a tiny area of foxing at the lower left, clear and legible and the signature is large and bold. This present letter written to Robert Morris, best known as the "Financier of the Revolution," ties together two men who were largely responsible for this country's successful birth as an independent and free nation.
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